Collegiate Times

“Terra Nova” – 

Monday, Sept. 26, at 8:00 p.m.

The Earth is dying in the year 2149. A family joins an effort to go back in time 85 million years to help rebuild a new civilization.

“Terra Nova” can be summed up in just two words: “inspired mediocrity.”

These are words I’ve stolen from my 12th-grade English teacher when he discussed anything by Steven Spielberg. As Spielberg produces this new Fox show, the phrase seems rather fitting.

The show begins during the year 2149 with an Earth that is steadily dying. Everyone has to wear a mask when walking outside because the pollution is so terrible, and the sun hasn’t been seen in years. Further, overpopulation issues have forced the world to adopt a two- children-only policy for families.

With the fate of the world looking pretty grim, the government has begun shooting groups of people back in time to rebuild a sustainable 
society. 

Apparently scientists have been able to warp the brave voyagers into a separate time stream, meaning their actions in the past are on a separate timeline that won’t affect what’s going on in present day — that’s convenient.

“Terra Nova” in particular follows one family as they’re catapulted 85 million years into the past. Immediately, they’re thrown into the effort to rebuild civilization, but as expected, rekindling humanity proves rather difficult.

There are lethal dinosaurs, rebel factions that have split off from the group, and strange indigenous-looking drawings on some rocks. Essentially, combine “Jurassic Park,” “Lost” and “Avatar” into one show and you have “Terra Nova.” 

I was half expecting the characters to stumble across some “unobtainium” or have a run-in with the smoke monster. Some similarities are uncanny. The splinter groups are very clearly “the others” in “Lost” lingo.

Now that may sound like an impressive combination, but the show just falls flat. The concept is quite compelling, and is more or less original, despite some similarities to other works. 

However, the show truly fails with its characters. They’re uninteresting and, more importantly, unlikeable. They’re rude, obnoxious and self-righteous — there’s hardly anyone to root for.

Because the premise and production value is so great, the show still has hope, but it really needs to revamp its characters if it has any shot at being as iconic as Jack and Kate, and the other infamous castaways.

3 stars out of 5

“Suburgatory” — 

Wednesday, Sept. 28, at 8:30 p.m.

A high school student may narrate “Suburgatory,” but the show’s stunning protagonist successfully takes a cliched topic and makes it entertaining for all ages.

At the beginning of the show, a father uproots his daughter from New York City and moves her to the suburbs. Laughter and snide remarks ensue. OK, so a single father’s daughter is a tomboy and has a hard time fitting in at school. Blah, blah, blah. We’ve seen this all before, right? Wrong. This is no “Full House” knockoff.

After a standout guest role on the  American version of “Shameless,” actress Jane Levy is quite deserving of being the show’s lead. She doesn’t just steal the show — she is the show. Her father, played by “Law & Order” vet Jeremy Sisto, shares an equally cynical view of life in the suburbs. 

While he’s trying to make the best of it, he simply cannot hide his disdain for the cookie cutter housewives and the monotony of daily suburban life.

I’ll definitely be sticking around to see how the sassy teenager adapts to her new surroundings, but only time will tell if “Suburgatory” will float up to TV heaven or descend into cancellation hell.

4 stars out of 5

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A version of this article appeared in the Oct 4 issue of the Collegiate Times.